Living Well Through Education & Nutrition

Organic Sulfur Crystals vs. Powders: What’s the Difference?

Reader asks, “I’ve been taking MSM supplements and they don’t seem to help very much. Is there a difference among brands?”

MSM, or methylsulfonylmethane, is typically manufactured and sold in tablet, capsule, or food supplement form. Tablets and capsules invariably contain silicon dioxide or other compounds in the outer shell that offset most of the health benefits of sulfur. In fact, Cellular Matrix Study members have discovered and reported that they derive the least benefit from taking MSM in the form of pills and capsules.

A large percentage of manufacturers pulverize their MSM food supplements into a powder as a way to facilitate packaging and processing. Many add anti-caking or flow agents to their product containers. When manufacturers convert their MSM into a powder and then add flow or anti-caking agents, they create a supplement that has lost over 85 percent of its natural potency.

Our organic sulfur is coarse and crystalline and obtained directly from our manufacturer’s precipitator without further processing.

If you’re taking MSM as a food supplement, here is a simple test you can perform to determine if you’re consuming the most effective form:

When taking your evening dosage of MSM, refrain from consuming the last few drops and let the residue sit in your drinking cup on the kitchen table or counter top overnight. In the morning after the liquid has been allowed to evaporate, take a look at the inside of the cup. You are taking the most potent and beneficial form of organic sulfur if you see a crystalline design at the bottom of the cup or glass.

Four of the more crucial amino acids – methionine, cystine, cysteine, and taurine – can’t function effectively in the body without an adequate supply of organic sulfur.

If you prefer not to add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar or a safe sweetener like stevia to your organic sulfur beverage, another reader recommends using the NOW brand of Vcaps (which are vegetarian) as an alternative way to take the product orally. Simply calculate the number of capsules you’ll need to hold a standard dosage (one teaspoon of the sulfur crystals) that you would need to take twice a day. http://bit.ly/1SyFUIC

On the other hand, the commercial brands of MSM that are manufactured in capsule or tablet form usually contain common additives like silicon dioxide or magnesium stearate that prevent your body from making full use of the sulfur in the product.

Linda…no one has more trouble getting liquid medication down than I do. I was horrified at the idea of “shooting” the crystals down. Just the thought of swallowing something that is liquid and bitter tasting could make me gag. However, I was amazed at how I did it without any problem. The bitter taste is gone almost immediately, and it doesn’t bother me at all now. Of course, I use pure orange juice. My energy level is up, my nails are growing healthy for the first time in ages, and I’m feeling better than I’ve felt in a very long time. Give it a try. I’m grateful to a friend who insisted I just try it, and wouldn’t take no for an answer. You never know what you can do, unless you give it a go at least once.